Do you ever feel like you’re speaking another language when talking about finances with your spouse or significant other? With Marriage Equality now the law of the land, financial planning for the LGBTQ community has gone more mainstream. Legal recognition of our relationships can make tax planning and financial planning a bit easier. Staying on the same page, financially, with your spouse is another story all together.

I’ve had the pleasure of being married to my handsome husband for more than four years now. I won’t pretend we never fight about money, but I can honestly say we are on the same page when it comes to our finances.

Here are six tips to help LGBTQ couples get on the same page, financially, and stay on track together. No one wants to fight about money, right?

Plan for the future then plan and plan some more! It is amazing how many arguments can be avoided by just talking about what you want out of life. Developing a financial plan for the future will force you to communicate where you hope and expect to be in 10, 20 or even 50 years. It will also help you to be prepared when a financial time bomb lands in your lap. That could be anything from the loss of a job, to illness, to where and when to retire, to caring for aging parents. The list is seemingly endless.

Talk about your financial priorities. Are you planning to travel the world? Looking to buy a new house or possibly remodel your current home? How much should you spend on your next car? That kitchen remodel might warrant spending a little less on the vacation to Paris. Maybe you should keep your car a little longer so you can pay for that new furniture you’ve been eyeing.

How do you want to split expenses? Married gay and lesbian couples earn more money than our heterosexual counterparts, on average. There is no right or wrong answer here, but it is important that you find an arrangement that works for both of you as a couple. You may choose a 50/50 split or you may choose to contribute based on your incomes. Other couples base their contributions based on disposable income. Not having this conversation can easily lead to resentment or fights over spending in the future.

Where would you like to go cruising?

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Don’t forget to keep having fun. If you follow step one and set up a financial plan, make sure you set aside money for something fun. If you are drowning in debt, this may just be something like setting aside money for date night. For other LGBTQ couples, it may mean stashing away cash to take a gay cruise on the Mediterranean Sea or an over water bungalow at some remote Four Seasons property. It may not sound exciting to be saving for a retirement that is decades away, but keeping fun in the mix will make it easier to stay on track for financial independence.

Always expect the unexpected. I’ve been helping gay couples make smart financial moves for more than 15 years and no one really expects to get sick, laid off from work or develop an age-related illness. Give it enough time, at least one half of couples will have some major life event. Having an emergency fund and being prepared will reduce the chances that you will have to cancel the “fun” part of your financial plan. Hopefully this will also help to reduce the financial stress in your household.

Don’t Ignore Protection Planning. Don’t forget that whether you are an LGBTQ couple that is engaged or married, work together to get your financial house in order. Money is the #1 thing couples fight about. Also, check to make sure your beneficiaries are up to date and have proper life insurance in place. Yes, LGBTQ couples should have life insurance as well. Lastly, make sure you have appropriate homeowners and auto insurance.

If you procrastinate and don’t act on it, even the best advice on the planet is irrelevant. Whether you are newlyweds or have your eye on retirement, get your head out of the sand and continue building your amazingly fabulous financial lives together. Put a gay financial plan in place and make it automatic so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of your lives.